Nigerians Have Surrendered to Bandits – Bulama Bukarti

Human rights lawyer, Bulama Bukarti, has warned that ongoing peace talks between residents of Katsina State and armed bandit groups are nothing more than a show of power by criminals.

In recent weeks, communities in Jibia and Batsari Local Government Areas have held open meetings with bandits. Shockingly, videos and photos from these gatherings showed gunmen arriving heavily armed, some tying rifles across their bodies while delivering speeches to locals.

For Bukarti, these scenes are not peace but intimidation.

“Bandits are coming out with heavy and dangerous weapons during peace talks, tying them to their bodies, giving speeches, and allowing themselves to be recorded on video. They do this deliberately to frighten people. That is exactly what terrorism is creating fear to achieve political, religious, or ethnic goals,” he told Daily Post.

He likened the spectacle to a kind of “military parade,” saying the gunmen were sending a message to Nigerians that they cannot be stopped.

Bukarti also pointed out that both the possession of such weapons and the so-called peace meetings are against Nigerian law.

“This is completely forbidden. No one is allowed to own such weapons, let alone display them. Even these peace dialogues with terrorists are unlawful because there is no legal framework that allows it,” he said.

Meanwhile, Islamic scholar Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, who has previously engaged with bandit groups, urged security agencies not to disrupt the gatherings, warning that interference could worsen tensions.

But Bukarti strongly disagrees. In his view, allowing armed groups to parade themselves in public while negotiating with helpless villagers only weakens the Nigerian state.

“The public and the government must understand that these meetings are not peace. They are submission. And the more terrorists are allowed to show off their weapons, the weaker the state looks in the eyes of citizens,” he argued.

The lawyer called on the federal government to take charge of any negotiations, insisting that only the state has the authority to set terms, ensure disarmament, and rehabilitate those willing to surrender.

“If the government feels it cannot fully protect communities from these attacks, then it should at least lead the talks, set clear conditions, and make sure the criminals are disarmed and rehabilitated. Leaving citizens to negotiate on their own only strengthens the bandits,” he said.